Holy Gastronomica Batman! Carb Loading at Carmine’s in NYC!

One of the few reasons to go anywhere near Times Square in NYC. If you are a real New Yorker you never really want to be in this part of town unless you’re there for a Broadway show or some sort of special event. As we were seeing Rock of Ages (awesome rocking show) not too long ago we decided to make reservations and eat here before the performance. Side note – sad to see the show bow to its final curtain. We saw it a few times and it was always a blast. Great music, plenty of laughs, wonderful memories, and a fun show to boot! Extra side note – never eat this much again if you plan on sitting in a small cramped Broadway theater to attend a show afterwards. I just wanted to lay down in the aisle and sleep after this carbo coma!

Carmine’s is known for ginormous family style portions, and they surely did not disappoint. The place itself is huge and boisterous. Plenty of pictures on the walls featuring Broadway celebrities and well knowns. Loud and full of people happily chowing down on some very decent plates of Italian style food. I would guess that 80% of the diners here that night were tourists. It probably is most of the time as it is located in tourist central, and many are in the area to either see a show or sight see. One thing for sure is that everyone comes here with an appetite and leaves satisfied.

I have to admit that we enjoyed our feast. Basket of breads were placed on the table, but no butter or oil? That was odd. We started with the stuffed artichokes which were larger than softballs and filled with a breadcrumb stuffing. Delicious and filling as an appetizer. The plate came with two of them. As a main course we split the pasta special of the night and when the plate came we laughed in fear at how monstrous it was! A mix of sweet and hot sausage, pastas, mushrooms, and a light cream based sauce. It was really terrific but way too much for two to eat. I did my best on it but had to wave the white flag and submit. I honestly felt as if I were going to explode from pasta carb overdose. Then it hit me that we had to get to the show after this and I almost wanted to cry. I really wanted my couch!

Service was attentive and friendly. Food was tasty and prepared as ordered. Prices are as can be expected in this area considering it’s Times Square, but not overly horrible. This is the kind of raucous place that is a good choice to dine at with a group, friends, or with a large Italian family like my mom’s side. Yes, my mom’s side were loud eaters, and the yelling, screaming across the table, heated arguments, and crazy laughter and joking was something to experience. I do miss those days, and they would have felt at home here.

Oh my goodness, I just ate dinner, this look like a lot, a lot, a whole lot of food! Whew, food coma at a play- I would die before making it to the theater- looks like a place though of good times and memories.Peggy Gilbey McMackin recently posted…Green Speckled Thin Spaghetti

My hubs would love this place—the larger the portion, the better! But I don’t think after eating all of that food that we’d be able to go to a show afterwards. I would DEFINITELY head for the couch!Marcia recently posted…Order Of Seven Book Review

That’s really a big plate of pasta! Looks like enough to feed several families:) Bread without butter or olive oil sounds weird. Do you think they forgot it? Though who would eat bread anyway, when there’s so much delicious food on the table. Maybe the bread was just a decoration:)Mitzie Mee recently posted…Dubai: IKEA assembly and flu recovery

Mmm now I’m hungry, thanks a lot man! When we lived up there we avoided Times Square at all costs, mainly because it was always crazy and full of those people, you know tourists. I don’t recall ever eating at this place, but maybe next time we’re up there we’ll stop by and name drop…you know Phil told us about you. I greatly miss the culture up there, suck ass Florida has none of that, what a shame.

We usually avoid Times Square too. Way too many tourists getting in the way. But there are a few good spots there to eat. At least you have every fast food and chain resto ever created down there!filbio310 recently posted…Get a New Taste of the Upper West Side in NYC!

The title of your post made me giggle 🙂 It’s great that you had thoughts back to your fun family memories with loud voices and crazy laughter. I like how certain environments remind me of people (well, usually, lol, except when we are reminded of people we don’t want to remember!) ~Happy Friday!Christy Birmingham recently posted…My Latest Read: Nine Black Lives by Resa McConaghy

If I could cook good Italian at home I would never go out. Wait, that’s not totally true. I’d rather have someone else do the cooking, serving, and cleaning up. Worth it for the price! We hardly cook here in NYC!filbio310 recently posted…Get a New Taste of the Upper West Side in NYC!

“not overly horrible” is as awesome a description for food prices in that area as I’ve ever heard!
Looks like a great place.
I’m waiting at the edge of my seat for Vegas pics!Joy Christi recently posted…“I Think I Hammered A Cop” A My Old Man Story

You liked that huh? Pretty much most things in Times Square are horrible or horribly overpriced to begin with. This place gives a lot of food for the dollars.filbio310 recently posted…Get a New Taste of the Upper West Side in NYC!